Charlie Battery - 1959 - 1969

External Web Links

The web links offered below are just some of the possibilities that we have come across while surfing the net. They have all been visited and examined in depth, and are ones that we feel offer something unique and should be explored and recognized. They all seem to have individual fields of study and/or objectives, and all show a pride and dedication to documenting the Nike Guided Missile's contribution to winning the peace of the Cold War, even though our job was, and for the most part still is, unrecognized and forgotten in both military and civilian worlds.

For the site descriptions I basically went to each website and copied their descriptions of missions and objectives in order to represent accurate information, as well as it was just easier to do it that way.

We are always looking for new quality web links and resources, so if you come across a unique and interesting website please submit it to be included on our links pages. Although most of the links provided here are directly related to the Nike experience, some, although peripherally related, may offer new insight and information that may have been missed or dismissed. So you never know...!

It's all a learning process... So click the link icons and... enjoy...!

The 3rd Missile Battalion 71st Artillery

Welcome to the web site for the 3rd Missile Battalion, 71st Artillery Regiment ADA, first located in Gerszewski Barracks, Karlsruhe, and later headquartered in Kornwestheim. The 3rd 71st consisted of four Nike Anti-aircraft Guided Missile Batteries that used the Nike Ajax and the Nike Hercules Guided Missiles.

They were geographically located around cities and villages of Phorzheim, Kleingartach, and Sachsenheim, Germany (AKA Grossachsenheim).

This Web Site is dedicated to the many thousands of American Soldiers that manned
the front lines in Western Germany during the longest war in American history,
The Cold War. In particular, we would like to single out the men and women that manned the Nike Ajax
and Nike Hercules SAM sites that were scattered throughout Western Germany during the
years 1957 to 1985.

The dedication and professionalism of the men and women that served in these units
played a huge roll in keeping the peace on the Western front, that many died
to achieve, during WW II. If you are one of these people, you can take pride in a job well done and we Thank You
for your service.

Charlie 3rd71st On Facebook

NAMFI - NATO Missile Firing Installation

In the middle sixties, the NATO Advisory Group of Aeronautical Research and Development (AGARD) was tasked to prepare a study for finding out and establishing a Guided Missile Range in Europe. After an extensive examination and relative study of all the proposed regions, the Akrotiri area next to Souda Bay of Crete was finally selected as the most suitable place for the following reasons:

• The orientation, the general lay-out and the size of the area, allow the utilization of the maximum range of the Weapon Systems.

• The Air and the Naval Bases in the area (Chania Airport and Souda Harbor) facilitate the access to NAMFI's Launching area.

• The good meteorological conditions allow the operation throughout the year

The period 1964 – 1968 NAMFI was constructed at Akrotiri area Chania Crete using NATO funds and based on the terms of its “Multilateral Agreement” which was signed by Belgium, France, W. Germany, Denmark, Greece, Norway, The Netherlands and USA in 1964. This agreement determines the legal status, its utilization, operation and other basic issues of NAMFI.

Today it is used on a permanent basis by four (4) countries: Belgium, Germany, Greece and The Netherlands, which are called USERS.

NAMFI is considered to be as one of the most significant Training-Centers of NATO.

Veteran Records And Archives

Military personnel records can be used for proving military service, or as a valuable tool in genealogical research. Most veterans and their next-of-kin can obtain free copies of their DD Form 214 (Report of Separation) and other military and medical records several ways. Our online eVetRecs system creates a customized order form to request information from your, or your relative's, military personnel records.

Please note: Records are accessional into the National Archives, and become archival, 62 years after the
service member's separation from the military. This is a rolling date; hence, the current year, 2011, minus 62 years is 1949. Records with a discharge date of 1949 or prior are archival and are open to the public. Records with a discharge date of 1949 or after are non-archival and are maintained under the Federal Records Center program. Non-archival records are subject to access restrictions.

Ed Thelen’s Nike Missile Web Site

This site presents a great deal of Nike Hercules historical, technical and operational information and provides extensive links to Nike related books, documents, museums and to other Nike related web sites. This site also provides a photographic tour of Nike site SF-88 (being restored), location and status of Nike sites, and a List of Nike People, some on-line documents, a bulletin board, a search, a Photo Exchange, an FAQ, and a variety of other features.

U.S. Army In Germany

The history of the US Army Europe (USAREUR) involves many reorganizations, numerous restructuring, but
throughout its forty plus years, it has remained as the “keeper of the peace” that it fought to gain in World War Two. The command was founded on 8 June 1942 in London as the American forces massed in Great Britain to begin training for the assault the continent of Europe that would take place two years later on the beaches of Normandy.

The real story of the future of USAREUR is in force modernization. New weapon systems and concepts in
force structure, such as the New Manning System, will help the command to keep changing and improving its defense capability.

But the one ingredient that has remained constant is the dedication of the USAREUR soldier. From Bill Mauldin's World War II “Willie and Joe” to today's modern combat and combat support teams in camouflage battle dress, it's still there. USAREUR's men and women soldiers can claim proud service and strong defense.

The above text was taken from an article of the following author order to illustrate the depth of content and history of this website. Mr. Arthur is a historian with the HQ, USAREUR and Seventh Army Military History Office.

A “Squadron” or “Group” was comparable with a “Battery”. A Battalion consisted of 4 combat batteries. A German NIKE Battalion had a personnel strength of about 1800 soldiers and civilian employees. So the personnel strength of all the
German NIKE-Battalions was close to 10.000 soldiers and civilian employees on duty every day and around the clock for almost three decades. Schools and depots as well as members of the US Army Artillery Detachments are not included in the above figures.

The Nike Historical Society

An association of veterans and other interested persons who want to record and make known the history and
purpose of the Nike Missile Air Defense system.

The Nike Historical Society was the brain child of Ron Parshall, one of the Nike Vets who helped restore Nike Site SF-88. The Society was formed to insure the proper interpretation of the Nike Missile System and was primarily focused on the preservation and proper interpretation of SF-88. As time went on most of the Nike Vets, who were associated with SF-88, left but continued to participate in the development of the Society. As time went on the Society grew in recognition and membership, which today is world-wide. The focus of the Society has always remained the same. The proper and accurate interpretation of the Nike Missile System.

Not only does the website interpret the missile system, it allows vets to post messages and attempt to get in contact with people they once served with. It also features sections where vets have contributed photos and related stories. A by-product of the Society's work has been a better public understanding and appreciation of what it took to be a Nike Missile man.

Christopher Bright’s Cold War Book

Continental Defense In The Eisenhower Era: Nuclear Antiaircraft Arms and the Cold War

This book tells the interesting and little known story of the thousands of nuclear antiaircraft weapons which were deployed in more than one hundreds locations around cities and defense installations in the United States during most of
the Cold War. Beginning in Dwight D. Eisenhower's presidency, these Army Nike-Hercules missiles, Air Force Genie rockets, and BOMARC and Falcon missiles were meant to destroy Soviet planes over (or near) U.S. airspace before they attacked
America with atomic bombs.

Based upon once-secret government documents (including some declassified especially for this study) from the White House, Pentagon, and elsewhere, Continental Defense in the Eisenhower Era reveals that: the existence of these arms was well known to the American public, and they were widely accepted;military officers had the authority to use them in certain circumstances without further approval;... etc...